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Reichert: USTR Will Work To Address GOP Issues With TPP; Floats Side Letters

December 09, 2015

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has committed to Republican members of the House Ways & Means Committee that he will work with them to try and address their objections to certain aspects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, including the exclusivity period for biologic drugs, according to Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA).

Froman has identified the negotiation of additional side letters as one way in which these objections could be addressed, Reichert said in a Dec. 4 interview with Inside U.S. Trade.

“He said that he's open to working with us to try and address the issues of the members,” Reichert said. “He mentioned ... they have some tools, and he mentioned that side letters are one of the possibilities.”

Reichert also identified implementation plans as another tool that could be used to address Republican objections, echoing a demand by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT).